CXXXIV. MELANTHACES. 4.05 
with linear-lanceolate, ciliate, sheathing leaves, and few-flowered scapes. 
Flowers shortly pedicelled, yellow, reddish externally ; pedicels 1-bracteate. 
—Common near Capetown. 
5. ORNITHOGLOSSUM, Salisb. 
Perianth 6-parted, persistent ; segments subconnate at base, 
lanceolate-linear, scarcely clawed, with a gland above the base 
inside, widely spreading, reflexed after flowering. Stamens 
inserted at the base of the sepals, subhypogynous. Ovary 
elliptical, 3-celled ; styles 3, filiform. Capsule elliptical, 
loculicidal— Kunth, l.c. p. 163. 
Bulbiferous. Stem simple or branched, leafy, corymboso-racemose at the 
summit. Leaves with clasping bases, lanceolate-linear. Flowers on long 
pedicels, green or whitish, nodding; peduncles 1-bracteate at base, widely 
spreading or deflexed in fruit.—2 or 3 species. 
Orper CXXXV. SMILACEA. 
Perianth petaloid, 6-parted. Stamens 6, in the base of the 
sepals, rarely hypogynous. Ovary free, 3-celled ; ovules 1 or 
several in each cell; style usually 3-fid; stigmas 3. Fruit a 
berry ; seeds with a membranous coat, albuminous.— Perennial 
herbs, undershrubs shrubs or trees, with fibrous or succulent 
roots, or rhizomes. Stems oftenclimbing. Leaves scattered, 
sessile or petioled, sometimes reduced to scales. 
Perianth with a long, slender tube and spreading or 
reflexed limb ; stemless plants, with radical, rigid, 
lanceolate or cylindric or terete leaves . . . 
Perianth tubular-bellshaped, with a short, erect limb; 
climbing plants, with broad, netted-veined leaves 
eewORILMOWEES . se. cu (hey uy Sy et x 64 DIOTYOPSIS. 
Perianth 6-parted to the base or nearly so; climbing 
or suberect halfshrubs or herbs. 
Flowers bisexual ; peduncles 1-flowered. 
False-leaves in fascicles, subtended by a scale . 2. ASPARAGUS. 
False-leaves solitary, subtended by a scale . . 3. MYRSIPHYLLUM. 
Flowers diccious, in umbels; leaves netted- 
veined ee 
1. SANSEVIERA. 
5. SMInax. 
1. SANSEVIERA, Thunb. 
Perianth with a long, cylindrical tube, and 6-parted, spread- 
ing or reflexed limb, deciduous; segments spathulate-linear, 
l-nerved, obtuse, equal. Stamens in the throat, exserted, 
spreading. Ovules solitary ; style filiform, erect, longer than 
the stamens ; stigma capitate, entire. Berries 1 or 3 subcon- 
nate, globose, fleshy, 1-seeded.—Awnth, Enum. v. p. 15. 
Stemless, with a thick, creeping rhizome. Leaves radical, numerous, 
lanceolate, thick and hard, often yielding very tough fibres for textile pur- 
